Signs advertise specials to customers of Wheeler Gardens in Ozark. The city's Board of Aldermen debated regulating temporary signs, and is still considering voting in new restrictions.

Written by

Rance Burger
RBURGER@NEWS-LEADER.COM

Debate over commercial signs became a philosophical argument of freedom of speech and property rights over two sessions and a total of 90 minutes for the Ozark Board of Aldermen. At the heart of the board's debate sits a 20-page bill that would reform the city's sign ordinance.

City Administrator Steve Childers estimated that "about 50 percent of the community" is out of compliance with the city's sign ordinance. Childers feels the proposal that city staff prepared for the aldermen to consider is "100 times better" than the current law, and will be easier for city employees to enforce.